The Osceola times., 1887-08-13
A GEORGIAN TRAGEDY.


by q SON to Keep Property In the hsnos
of His Fathers First fanilly-An BHcfteo
Community.
MACON, Ca, Aug. Eight corpses, De-
spattered with blood and brains, lay IN
a house thirteen miles from this city yes
tcrday morning, and we're CHASTITY eyi-
dence Of the most shocking murder ever
committed in Georgia. In the hallway, RED
with blood and clotted with brains ana
hair, lay long handled axe with which
the .Qctuple crime had been accomplished.
Tht-6rst news Of the crime was brought TO
this city early yesterday morning by
mounted messenger, whose foam
fecked horse told of the terrible
importance of the errand on which
he had ridden. The news spread
through the city and surrounding country
with incredible rapidity, and when the
coroner and other county officials reached
the scene fully three thousand people were
awaiting their coming. A more humble
structure than that in which the crime
was committed would be difficult to imag-
inc. II is a one-story building with a long
veranda in front and a hallway running
through the center, into which
open four rooms. The house is the
property Of Richard +. Voolfolk, re-
spectacle and well-to-do white planter.
On the right on entering is parlor, in the
rear of which is u sleeping-room which
was occupied by the following persons:
Mrs. West, an aged sister of Mrs. Wool.
folk, PEARL Annie and Rosebud Voolfolk,
daughters of Mrs. Voolfolk. The sleep
ing-room ON the left of the entrance was
occupied by Thomas, Richard and Charles
NAnlf,Il .,f Mr. aud Wnalfalk
The rear room on the left was occupied
by Mr. and Mrs. Voolfolk and their young
est child, aged eighteen months. A ghsstly
sight confronted those who first entered
the house after the discovery Of the crime,
In the last room the father, mother and
infant lay on the same bed, each reeking
with the blood of the other. The bodies
were almost lying across each other, and
their position gave evidence of an agoniz-
ing death Across the three corpses was
slung that of the oldest daugh.
ter, Pearl, recent graduate
of Wesleyan Female college, with
her head beaten TO pulp, and her neck and
sharp blade of the axe. On the floor, in
the same mangled state. lay the body of
the eldest brother. II was evident that
by cries during the butchering of their
parents, and had rushed into the room to
learn the cause only TO share their fate.
On the bed in the opposite room lay the
body Of Mrs. West. soaked in her own
blood and her brains oozing from her
head, which, like that of the victims In the
other room, was also crushed into shape
less mass. On the same bed lay the body
nf A NCzolfolL hos haal ,ln
in twain; by the window, on the floor, In
an attitude of supplication, lay the body
of Rosebud Voolfolk, with the left side OF
her face and head so mangled as to make
recognition almost impossible.
The sight made the strongest hearts
sick; even the ceilings and walls were be-
spattered with blood and brains, while
here and there pieces Of flesh which had
| been flung from the uplifted axe clung TO
the walls and wainscoting. The bedding
was soaked with the crimson life blood,
and on the floor sickening pools had
| formed.
As soon as the officials could collect their
senses steps to investigate the crime were
begun. T. G. Voolfolk, the only survivor
| of the family, was questioned closely, and
his replies were of such nature that sus.
| picion quickly pointed TO him as being
| guilty of the crime. Voolfolk was imm,-
| diately placed under arrest. He protestei
| his innocence, but viewed the blood.
| bespattered bodies with such unnatural
composure that the crowd was soon infu-
| rated and clamoring for his life. The
coroner and other officials rallied around
the prisoner and held the crowd at bay, at
| the same time urging that the man be Civ
en- chance TO prove his innocence II posi-
BILE. These pleadings eventually impressed
the throng, and 1t was agreed TO await the
result Of the coroner's inquest, provided 1t
be held Immediately. The coroner accord.
ingly impaneled a jury and proceeded
with the investigation.
LATER AND FULLER DETAILS
| from the scene OF the Voolfolk tragedy
| develop the fact that there were nine vic.
tins instead Of eight as reported-Captain
| and Mrs. X. +. Voolfolk, their six children,
ranging in ages from sixteen months to
twenty years, and Mrs. West, an aunt
| Of Mrs. Voolfolk, aged sixty.
The coroner's jury found a verdict Of
| murder against Thomas q. Voolfolk, son
| of the Captains first wife, who was sleep
| ing IN the house. His statement was that
| some time before daybreak he was aroused
| by groans and the sound of blows comm,
| from his parents room. His half brother
/ Richard, ran into the room which adjoined
his, and, thinking that murder wa,
| being committed ne (Thomas)
| jumped from window in hi
| night clothes and bare feet and ran to tn,
house Of negro three hundred OF fou
| hundred yards distant TO get them I,
| arouse the neighborhood. He says he wa
afraid to return, fearing that he himsel
would be murdered, but went back afte
half an hour. No help had arrived, and h
went in to see il the family had been mur
| dered. He found them all dead. II,
stepped in pool of blood in passing ant
| left footprints on the floor. He found hi.
stepmother lying so that her head was OF
the floor and her body on the bed. II
raised her up and placed her on the bed
He then changed his clothes.
| BY this time crowd had arrived, am
soon after he was taken into custody. Tn
evidence before the jury was circum
stantial throughout. The crowd continue,
to grow in size, and the indications point
ed strongly TO lynching. Sheriff Westcot
told the jury TO hold their verdict until
could get the prisoner away, and then
making an arrangement, slipped Woolfo
out Of the house and drove rapidly, so tina
the crowd had no time TO realize his d.
parture. The prisoner was brought
Macon and lodged in Jail, where he tslke,
of the crime coolly but made no admis
sions. His motive is said 10 be the desir
10 gain possession of his fathers propert
FOR himself and two sisters, children Of th,
first wife.
l